Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting $590?

I replaced the one in my old Zetec twice. You need to rip some of the metal around the cap to enlarge the hole, but after that it's easy as pie!!

I'm having the exact same issue with my car right now. I initially thought IMRC too, but have now realized (thanks to the guys on here) that it is probably the fuel pump. I didn't think that would be it since the one I have was replaced under warranty only about a year ago. I did manage to get my backseat up and look at the fuel pump. It takes some muscling, but it came up and went back down fine.

Since we're on the topic, though, do they make a return style pump for the Contour, or do you need to use the Focus SVT pump? I've been trying to decide whether to attempt this myself thinking that if it is the Focus SVT pump that a garage might not be willing to put a part into a car that didn't belong. I'm not all that mechanically inclined (at least for car stuff), so if there is a return style Contour pump I'll be very happy!

If there is, does anybody know the replacement cost at a garage? I can't believe that it would be $590. I think the warranty cost of my last one was in the $300 range.

If you have a returnless system you are better off not trying to switch to a return style. The return style was what was used until late in the 99 model year.

As far as how to change the returnless style, follow the link below. There is some new information since this excellent how to was written. The factory supplied pump is now different. It is the same as is used in factory recall. It mounts differently into the tank in that it is suspended from the top instead of locking into the bottom. To do the install, the locking tabs must be cut and removed from the bottom of the tank. Some have reported that the new pump has problems and either isn't strong enough for the SVT or Ford had some quality issues with it. A cure that someone here came up with was to modify the original pump module by installing the Focus SVT pump (which is available seperately). It seems to be a worthy upgrade as well as easier than cutting the tabs out of the tank.

The biggest problem with the returnless system as originally built was that the disc shapped pre filter screen in the bottom of the fuel pump module was too fine and plugged too easily. The cure for this is to remove the screen and throw it away. It isn't needed as there is a conventional sock filter further inside the module. Look at the very last photo in the how to link.

http://www.contour.org/mods/mods.php?s=howto&displayid=39

I'm pretty confused, but it seems that an easy and cheap possible fix is to just remove that pre-filter screen. Does anyone have instructions on just doing that part?

Just follow the link to the how too. It is the same process, you just reinstall the old pump after removing the filter screen.

BTW, the filter sock has a one way locking retainer on it. Better to buy a new filter because the retaining washer probably will not let go and has to be cut off of the stud on the base of the pump and the plastic arm will probably go with it. Check the box before leaving the store to be sure the retaining washer is in it.